un jeu de société
In French, "a board game" is un jeu de société.
This phrase refers to a tabletop game played by people on a pre-marked surface.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, un jeu de société means "a game of society", where société refers to the social interaction or the group of people playing.
Which one should you use?
While un jeu de plateau (literally "a game of board") is also used, un jeu de société is the more common, standard term for board games in general.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada (Québec), the term jeu de table is often used instead of jeu de plateau to refer to board games.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you change the article un to des and the noun jeu to jeux, but the phrase de société remains unchanged, resulting in des jeux de société.
Did you know?
- The word jeu is used in mechanics to describe the 'play' or 'gap' in a part, such as the wiggle room in a steering wheel.
- The word jeu is used in French to describe both a 'game' and a 'set' of items, such as un jeu de clés for 'a set of keys'.
- The French word jeu shares a common ancestor with the English word 'joke'. Both originate from the Latin iocus, which referred to a jest or a playful act.
Examples in context
- On va jouer à un jeu de société ce soir ?Are we going to play a board game tonight?
- On peut acheter un jeu de société.We can buy a board game.
- Est-ce que tu as un jeu de société ?Do you have a board game?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are deciding what to do on a rainy evening.
- GabrielOn joue à un jeu de société ?Shall we play a board game?
- ManonBonne idée, Gabriel.Good idea, Gabriel.
- GabrielQuel jeu de société préfères-tu ?Which board game do you prefer?
- ManonJe préfère celui-ci.I prefer this one.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, jeu, société, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
